The Day that Pain Died

Here's an interesting article, "The Day Pain Died," about the first medical operation to use anesthetic.

The gist is that anesthesia itself was hardly new in the 19th century, but that a moral objection prevented it's use. Why? Because pain was considered an integral and necessary part of life, and the removal of pain was the work of either a crank or a profiteer, interested only in encouraging their patients' base and cowardly instincts.

Interesting read, as long as you don't let all of the religion-bashing bother you.